With construction at Dunkin’ Donuts Park still underway, events planned to coincide with the opening are now being cancelled or postponed.
That includes at MetroHartford Alliance.
“We do have a Rising Star breakfast scheduled for May 26th over there. That will be postponed, ideally to a date that would precede the actual first game,” said Oz Griebel, MetroHartford Alliance President & CEO.
The stadium’s opening day change is also affecting alumni from the University of Hartford.
They had a sold-out event for the first game in Hartford.
In a statement, the university wrote:
“The Yard Goats have been extremely helpful throughout the planning process and we have been assured that our alumni event will take place on opening night at the new stadium, whenever that date turns out to be.”
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Some business leaders have concerns about how the delayed construction could affect the city budget and city taxes.
For now they’re taking a long-term view of the project and are still hoping it will help the entire region.
“The goal I think here is in everyone’s interest to complete the stadium as soon as possible, get the Yard Goats playing as soon as possible, get all the activity downtown we all want to see as a result of the stadium,” said Griebel.
James Flaherty is still waiting to start his job as part of the grounds crew for the Hartford Yard Goats.
“I know the whole delay. It’s a bummer. But hopefully soon get out there,” said Flaherty.
Flaherty was one of the people who applied for a job with the team.
In March, those looking for work showed up for a job fair boasting some 300 positions with the team.
Those who were hired, from ushers to kitchen staff to the grounds crew, are in a holding pattern.
“You hear people complaining but once it’s open and baseball is started there everyone will forget about the whole delay thing,” said Flaherty.
Baseball in Hartford was also expected to be a boost to the area.
“We were just hoping it would bring some business downtown. We were really looking forward. Little disappointed that they are running late but looking forward to it and their opening,” said Lamya Rayyashi of Sam’s Quick Stop.
At City Steam Brewery Cafe, they added special goat cheese items to the menu and are ready to decorate the restaurant with Yard Goats merchandise.
They expect to see lots of baseball fans here, once the games begin.
“There’s always little hiccups here and there, things don’t go as planned. So I don’t think we’re going to suffer for a month longer delay, or three weeks, or whatever it will be,” said Chris Leonard, City Steam bar manager.
